Campus Welcomes Pianist Lise Keiter For March 17 Schumann Recital

Robert is 200 years old – more specifically, Robert Schumann (1810-1856).

Pianist Lise Keiter will celebrate the 200th birth year anniversary of the German composer with a recital 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 17, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building at EMU.

Dr. Keiter, an associate professor of music and chair of the music department at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, will perform Schumann’s “Fantasie,” a major work which is well-loved by pianists and audiences. The rest of the program will be built around the “Fantasie.”

Keiter will open the program with Beethoven’s “Sonata-Fantasie in E-flat Major, op. 27, no. 1.” Schumann greatly admired Beethoven and even paid homage to him within his “Fantasie” with some direct quotes from Beethoven works.

She will also play Clara Schumann’s “Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann.” Schumann’s wife, Clara, greatly influenced his life and music; he composed the passionate first movement of his “Fantasie” with her in mind.

The program will end with three of the op. 116 “Fantasies of (Johannes) Brahms.” Brahms and both Schumanns were close friends and respected each others’ works.

Keiter joined the Mary Baldwin faculty in 1998. She has performed nationwide and is active as a solo recitalist, collaborative artist and soloist with orchestra. In 2005, she developed an all-women composers program of solo piano works in honor of the bicentenary year of pianist and composer Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847). This popular recital has become her most-requested program.

The Charlestown, Ill., native has a bachelor of music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory and completed a masters degree and the doctorate of music at Indiana University, where she also received the award for outstanding teaching.

Admission to the program is free; donations are welcomed for the EMU music student scholarship fund.